The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-03-18


that DR.. Scarle issued his 7:30 a m. bull
letin up TO the end, the family and few
| friends gathered around the bedside
Tho patient lay on his back, the merest
| motion Of his chest indicating respiration.
| He was - still - when the breathing
| ceased His countenance had changed
| from coarse 70 finc. The white hair rested
| 'sliko benediction Of the liliesn on his
wan and painless temples The room was
warm and bright with the morning sun,
and nature poured In her cheering rays
Near tho head OF the sleeper knclt
his wife in solemn prayer. BY her
side were Colonel H. N. Beecher and his
devoted wife. Beyond them were their
children Margaret Edith and Harry; on
the other side Of the bed were Colonel w.
Q. Beecher and wife, and their niece, Miss
Billiard. and by them stood the SON IN
law, Rev. Samuel Scovili Of Stamford,
Conn.,, his wife, Hattie Bcecher Scovill,
whose resemblance to her father il strik-
ing, and their two daughters. The faith
full DR.. Searlc stood outside Of the imme-
date group Pastor Halliday stood at tho
foot Of the bed Near him were Mr.. and
Mrs. 3. v. White and Rev. Lyman Abbott.
Mr.. 3. "A. Seacomb stood In the back
ground.
A whispercd word Of comfort would be
exchanged by those who stood near ono
another. Heads were bowed in silent
prayer, or eyes would let the unshed tears
flow
The great man slept on, his spent life
ebbing slowly away.
At half-past nine o'clock precisely q
keen ray OF light. unusual in its intensity,
fell across the countcnancc and re-
fiected the dazzling prism Of the pend
ant crystal on the mantel lamps upon
the white pillow There had
been the constant sound OF
low, regular breathing, as marked, but as
unnoted at the ticking OF the clock. But
now that sound suddenly ceased, and tho
soul had hidden its mortal tenement good
bye, until they that sleep shall rise again;
until this corruptiblc shall put on incorrup-
ton; until this mortal shall put on i'm
mortality; and rising spiritual body,
death shall be swallowed up In victory.
BIoGRArnIcAL
Mr.. Beccher was born at Litchfeld, Conn.
June -, 1873 lie graduated AZ Amherst Col
lego In 1884. and studied theology az Lane Sem
mary. In 1877 he became pastor OF Presby-
terrain Church AZ Lawrence burg. and In 1889 at
Indianapolis Ind. In 1877 he received call
from the Plymouth Church. a new Congrega-
tionalist organization in Brooklyn. ~. " Here
almost from the outset he began 10 acquire that
reputation as q pulpit orator which has been
maintained and increased during nearly half
century. The church and congregation under
his charge are probably the largest in America.
He always discarded the mere conventionaii-
ties Of the clerical profession. In his view
humor had place In sermon ne well as argu-
ment and exhortation. He was fond OF illustra.
ton drawing his material from every sphere OF
human life and thought. and his manner was
highly dramatic. Though his keen sense Of
huinor continually manifested itself the pre-
vailing impression given by his discourses was
one Of intense earnestness. The cardinal idea
ofhis creed was that Christianity il mot
series OF philosophical or metaphysical dogmas.
but rule Of life in every phase. Hence
never hcsitafed 70 discuss from the pulpit the
great social and political questions or the day.
such as slavery. intemperance RIGHTEOUSNESS.
the lust for power. and the greed for gain. He
was an enthusiast in music. connoisseur IN
art. lover OF flowers and animals. Apart from
his purely professional labors. he was popu-
lar lecturer in lyceums and orator az public
meetings.
Before beginning 10 preach he edited for
year Cs36) newspaper. tho Cincinnati Journal.
and while pastor At Indianapolis an agricultural
Journal his contributions 20 which were after
ward published under the title. Fruits Flow
crs and Farming For nearly twenty years
he was an editorial contributor 70 The Iad<.
p<sdenf, q weekly journal published in Nc
York. and from 1851 70 1863 rs editor: his con.
tributions 70 this we're signed with :. and
many OF them were collected and published rs
The Star Papers,
Since 1870 he has been editor OF TIE Carissirn
Union. weekly newspaper published In New
York. His regular weekly sermons a. taken
down BY stenographers have been printed since
1852 and now form more than score OF vol
umes under the title Of .Thc Plymouth Pulpit
Besides these he has published Lectures 20
Young Mem" Industry and Iilcncss:" Life \
Thoughts" two series edited by Edna Dean
Proctor and Augusta Moore; sermons on
Liberty and War; The Plymouth Collection l
Of Hymns and Tunes:- Norwood novel !
originally published in the N>u York L<dg<r. 20 /
which he was constant contributor: .ser. 1
mons, from Published and Unpublished Dis I
courses" q vols. 1s7O; Life OF Christ" ~
vols, 1Ssf-'sg; and 'Yalc Lectures on Preach \
ing us72).
In 1863 he visited Great Britain. with special .
view 70 disabuse the public in regard TO the
issues OF our civil war. His spec hes cxertcd
wide influence In changing popular kcntimens. I
which had been strongly in favor OF the South
crn Confcdcracy. They were published IN .
London, but have not been reprinted IN Ameri /
lea.
OF his later life and labors, including his re-
cent second visit 70 England the readers 81 \
these dispatches have been fully advised. His
place In the American pulpit will long remain
vacant, II indeed Il Il ever again completely 4
Allied
Logan Memorial Meeting.